inspired by our little wanderlust life

You Do You

I’ve lost track of how many times I’ve mentioned these three little words in conversations this week. Whether it’s been advice given to friends or something I’ve told myself.

It’s oh too easy to be in those little annoying bubbles of comparing ourselves to others when it comes to what we have, and this seems highlighted as I try to live a little more simply.

Defining what simple living is for our little family has given me interesting insights. A constant struggle that comes to light seems to be the question:

“When does it stop? The wanting, the lists, the must-haves, the but-i-just-need’s?”

We are all trying to find our feet, our place in the sun, our home, our jam. And if it looks vastly different to someone else {I’m learning, I’m trying to say} that’s OK. It’s really, genuinely, actually, truly OK. You do you.

This hasn’t always been a feeling I’ve had, or have had to actively accept. I think that the fast-paced lifestyle was never really a question through our twenties, when we were travelling the globe, working in {mostly} decent jobs and flitting our earnings into plane tickets or happy hours or renting little 400 square foot apartments near the heart of London.

I look back on this time fondly, with wonderful memories: my life filled with interesting places and people who were all on a journey, living their story.

Maybe it’s motherhood and the pressures that come with it from peers, friends, family and society that brought this new musing to light. Are we doing enough? Our best? Should our toddler be in “school” already?

The pressures of a mama who’s had to {or wanted to} go back to work, wondering if she should have, feeling guilty & affected by mama friends who didn’t or didn’t have to. The pressures of a mama at home wondering if this is the right thing to do, wanting a little time to herself, then feeling guilty for thinking about wanting it.

Myself and my mama friends fall into a lot of these categories. Why are we so tough on ourselves and each other?

Let’s just call it motherhood, nod in absolute agreement that it’s beautiful and hard and wonderful and heartwarming and even ridiculous sometimes, and get on with being as we are. We are doing an amazing job. You do you.

Maybe it’s seeing things from the eyes of a traveler. We’ve been on the move since we jetted off in twenty-ten. We’ve seen different ways of living and had the joy of appreciating other cultures.

We’ve never really unpacked our suitcases, sometimes we’ve not even known where we were going to stay. Hmmm…sometimes I didn’t know what work or job I would be doing the next day! I think this helps me {personally} in taking on twenty-seventeen as the year of living more simply and embracing everything as it is.

This isn’t everyone’s story. It doesn’t mean you can’t see things with fresh eyes if you haven’t lived a traveling life. This is just me {hopefully inspiring you in some way to reflect or make little changes to do things the way you really want to} and my chatter about how I’ve stumbled upon a refreshing way to live my life. You do you.

There’s a full life waiting for you, and it’s time. Be mindful of when you’re comparing yourself to others, whether it’s parenting, work, friendships, where or how you live. Embrace the life you’re in, welcome it with open arms and hug it tight.